Graham: "Fire still burns"

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It’s that burning desire to succeed that drives an NRL player to victory.

It’s the undercurrent of any successful team and it is something that ran through the veins of each and every Cronulla Sharks player in 2016.

And it is running once again.

With speculation around that the Cronulla Sharks are “lacking motivation” after breaking their premiership drought in 2016, back-rower Wade Graham thinks this is not the case stating that his side do still have that fire burning.

“I think so,” said Graham.

“We’re a different team to last year but I don’t see why we can’t get the same result as last year if we play our best footy.

“We’ve been inconsistent throughout the year but we’ve showed in the patches we’ve played our best football we’ve beaten almost every team above and we’re certainly confident that if we can nail our footy and get our games right then we can be as good as anyone else and better than anyone else.

“It is this confidence that Sharks fans have become synonymous with over the past few seasons, with the Sharks playing an uncompromising style of football, equal to that of the best teams in the competition.

“Despite being patchy in parts during the 2017, Graham admits that in order to re-create the magic that will see his side lift the premiership trophy on October 1, his side will need to bring their best football from here.”

To Graham, the equation is simple.

“That’s what it’s going to take from here on out as we didn’t finish (sic) in the top four so it’s either perform or you’re on holidays now so it’s a simple equation for us.

“We can be as confident in our ability and be as motivated as we like but if we don’t aim up on the day, we’re out so it’s pretty simple.”